Route 66 in Oklahoma City Historic Context Project Report

Goodson, Heather; Russo, Maryellen; Brown, Mikayla; Wallisch, Rebecca

Abstract: "In 1926, U.S. Highway 66, also known as Route 66, was designated to provide a transcontinental route connecting Chicago, Illinois, in the northeast United States to Los Angeles, California, in the southwest, and passing through Oklahoma City. Initially using previously established state highway alignments through Oklahoma City, the Route 66 alignments through the city would change multiple times over the more than four decades of its designation as a U.S. Highway. These changes accommodated the growing city and rapid rise in automobile ownership. Overtime, a variety of businesses directly associated with Route 66, such as gas and service stations, garages, restaurants, tourist camps, cottage or tourist courts, motels, and tourist attractions, developed along the various alignments. Extant examples of these property types, as well as roadbed segments, bridges, and other road-related infrastructure, from the period when Route 66 was significant in Oklahoma City's development stands as 'crucial artifacts that chart the changing social dynamics associated with Route 66.' Throughout this document, the term 'Route 66' is used as the primary name of the highway unless the discussion is specific to the formal designation of the highway. In December 2019, the city of Oklahoma City contracted with Blanton & Associates, Inc. (B&A) to prepare the historic context of Route 66 in Oklahoma City below (hereinafter referred to as the Project). The Project is the first phase of a possible multi-phased initiative to identify and evaluate specific buildings or other property types associated with Route 66 in Oklahoma City for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or for inclusion in other local planning efforts. The Project is focused on all alignments of Route 66 identified in the literature within the current Oklahoma City limits." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants division, National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P19AF00201).

Route 66 in Oklahoma City Historic Context Project Report

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